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7 surprising fertility facts

Fertility and trying to conceive isn't as easy as some people think. Fertility and conception experts like Medica IVF's Dr David Knight say the human species is not as fertile as we like to think. "If you are between 18 and 34 and you and your partner are generally healthy, doctors say more often than not some simpleproblems - with easy fixes - may be standing in your way," he says. There are plenty of myths and old wives tales about fertility that Dr Knight says can get in the way of successfully falling pregnant.

Fertility fact 1: How often to have sex

Most women know they must ovulate in order to conceive, but having sex on the day of ovulation does not increase thechances of conception. It may in fact decrease a woman's chance as many wait for ovulation before having sex which may cause them to bypass their most fertile time. After ovulation, an egg is only viable for about 24 hours,so if you are waiting until you ovulate to have intercourse, chances are you are going to miss the opportunity to getpregnant that month.

Since sperm can also live in your reproductive tract for 3-4 days, having sex two to three times a week, means that when an egg is released there will be sperm waiting!

"I tell my patients to have regular intercourse, meaning 2-3 times a week generally starting after your period stops. Specifically I encourage couples NOT to monitor ovulation or use temperature graphs," Dr Knight says. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that having sex beginning six days prior to ovulation is themost conducive to achieving conception. The more times you have intercourse during your 'window of opportunity', the more likely you are to get pregnant.

Fertility fact 2: Relax, have sex every day

Don't worry about having too much sex when you are trying to conceive. The same NEJM studyfound that having sexevery day is slightly more likely to result in pregnancy than intercourse every other day. Experts do caution couples not to put love making on a schedule. That, they say,just might decrease chances ofconception.

The scientific evidence is scarce, but if you are stressed and love making is on'schedule,' there is some data to show that hormones may be affected and that in turn could influence conception. A Harvard Medical School study on women withfertility problems, that 55% of those who completed a 10 week course of relaxation training and stress reduction had a viable pregnancy within one year, compared with just 20% of the group who had no stress reduction training. Doctors have also found that women undergoing fertility treatments, who remained relaxed and optimistic, hadbetter overall outcomes than women who were pessimistic about their ability to conceive. If you are worried all thetime about getting pregnant, if you obsess over it and think about only that, you might influence your bodychemistry in a way that does affect your fertility. The key is to "think about making love, not about making babies."

Fertility fact 3: How position affects conception

There are many myths surrounding sexual intercourse and the best time to conceive. Many couples widely believethat the position taken during sexual intercourse will affect their chances of getting pregnant. Furthermore, many believe their chances of conceiving are increased by lying on their backs for 20 minutes, ensuring the semen stays inthe neck of the uterus for longer.

Whilst semen does inevitably come out of the vagina following ejaculation, sufficient sperm are deposited in the neck of the womb and are able to begin their journey towards the egg, regardless of the position taken.

Fertility fact 4: Don't think sperm potency improves by saving up

Millions of sperm are produced every day in the testicles. The sperm are stored in a tiny sac, the epididymis, which lies at the top of each testicle. Abstaining from sex in order to accumulate sperm so that more are deposited during sex will not increase your chances of achieving conception.

In fact the stored, older sperm may be of inferior quality and even hinder the newly produced, healthier sperm from reaching the egg.

Fertility fact 5: Lubricant won't help sperm to slip, slide and get inside

Not only is this not true, it could actually prevent you from getting pregnant, says Dr Knight.Most lubricants change the pH or acid balance inside the vagina, and that in turn may affect sperm motility and ultimately prevent, or at least reduce the chances of a pregnancy occurring.

If you find you must use a lubricant avoid petroleum jelly. Instead try natural vegetable products, such as olive oil, which is less likely to cause sperm any serious problems.

There is no evidence to support that a woman with low libido or failure to orgasm cannot conceive - though some patients do think this. Furthermore, a woman does not need to achieve an orgasm in order to conceive. Continually trying to find the right time to have sexual intercourse may place a strain on a couple's lovemaking and this in turn may hinder their chances of getting pregnant.

Couples should have sexual intercourse when they feel like it and not limit it to the period during the woman's cycle perceived to be the most fertile.

Furthermore, women do not always ovulate on the fourteenth day of their cycle and it is easy to misjudge the fertile time. The chance of becoming pregnant in any one month for a fertile couple is at best 25 per cent and even in entirely healthy couples.

Fertility fact 7: Failing to conceive doesn't mean you are a failure

Infertility is a medical condition just like arthritis or asthma, which can require medical treatment. It is no reflection on how masculine or feminine a person is. Although there are no dietary or nutritional cures for infertility, a healthy lifestyle is important. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, not smoking and avoiding alcohol and caffeine are probably wise ideas.